Meet Our Experts
CED staff have direct
experience in the successful start-up and operation of microbusiness
programs in urban and rural locations; technical
assistance to develop new programs; program development to existing
organizations and program evaluation. Staff have developed
expertise in microbusiness training, lending operations, business
technical assistance, Individual Development Account (IDA) programs,
development of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs),
mentoring program operations, fund development, grants management,
staff training/management and MIS for microbusiness programs.
Howard Good
In
addition to his member services responsibility, Howard provides senior
leadership to the Community Economic Development Department . He
joined MEDA in 1993, focusing on the development of the ASSETS model.
In 1996 he took on the role of Director of Domestic Service. In
this role he was responsible for providing technical assistance to
organizations implementing the ASSETS model. Most recently he has
served as the Vice-President of North American Operations. Prior to
joining MEDA, Howard worked at the Mennonite Central Committee and
Rosenberger's Cold Storage Company.
Howard has a bachelors
degree in economics from Goshen College and is completing a Masters in
Public Administration degree at Pennsylvania State University.
Rachel Hess
As director of the Community Economic Development Department, Ms. Hess
leads the strategic planning and new program development for the
department. Additionally, she has led the program implementation for
CED's capacity building work with faith and community based
organizations and job creation projects. Prior to this position, Ms.
Hess served as the program developer for the business development
department at MEDA. In this position she provided technical assistance
to community groups as they developed microbusiness programs. Before
joining MEDA, Rachel worked at Ten Thousand Villages, Eastman Kodak
Company and Mennonite Central Committee.
Rachel has a BA in International Studies from the University of Virginia.
Kathy Gilman
Kathy Gilman assists in delivering technical assistance to
organizations that want to add a microenterprise program to their
existing services. Since 2004 Ms. Gilman has provided technical
assistance to organizations in rural Pennsylvania who are adding
microbusiness services. Before working with MEDA, Ms. Gilman served in
a variety of roles at Washington CASH, a microbusiness development
program in Seattle, Washington. Her roles included program and
administration responsibilities for the training and technical
assistance program, and the microloan and peer-lending program.
Kathy
holds a MBA in finance from the Kellogg School of Management,
Northwestern University and a BA in economics from the University of
Chicago.
